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Western Australia, Swan Coastal Plain, N of Perth, Gnangara-Moore
River State Forest, Gilderton, S of Woodridge (settlement)
Zonobiome IV: Sclerophyllous Woodlands & Scrub
Subzonobiome (accord. to Mucina, unpubl.): Mediterranean
Sclerophyllous Woodlands & Scrub
Regional Azonal Biome (accord. to Mucina, unpubl.): Western
Australian Kwongan
Community: Verticordia nitens-Banksia menziesii Woodland
Part of very extensive banksia woodland patch. Banksia woodlands are peinobiome communities on deep, nutrientdeprived
sandy soils (so called Bassendean Sands) 2-5 My old. These
soils (actually regolith) has been accumulating here for millions of years
and have experienced gradual leaching, with hardly any notable soil
rejuvenation. The woodlands are a kwongan scrub (undergrowth),
overtopped by scattered Banksia and Eucalyptus trees. Grass trees
(Xanthorrhoea preissii) can also become taller than 2 m. The tree Banksia
species (B. attenuata and B. menziesii) are phreatophytes and their
occurrence int his kwongan type is a result of their ability to reach ground
water supplies as well as generally reasonable precipitation (around 700
mm MAP). The site is not under strict protection (conservation status), however,
having the status of ‘state forest’ it is under management of the
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (Western
Australian Government). The vegetation is a typical low, sparse woodland with dense scrub
undergrowth. None of the plants is taller than 5 m and therefore
technically, no E3 (tree) layer can be distinguished. The trees concentrate
in E2B and are also represented (as samplings and seedlings) in E2a and
E1 layers. There are patches of mosses here and there, mainly
concentrating on old burnt sites (Funaria sp.). The herb layer is very
sparse and contains number of orchids (most of them still visible as basal
rosettes only), numerous rosette-forming (mainly not flowering yet) alien
Hypochaeris glabra (Mediterranean herb), and very numerous yet tiny,
also alien, Heliophila pusilla and Ursinia anthemoides s.str. (both annual
herbs of South African origin).
Total cover: 50 %
E2b:
Banksia attenuata 15% (4-5 m)
Banksia menziesii 10% (4-5 m)
Eucalyptus todtiana 10% (5 m)
E2a:
Hibbertia hypericoides 20%
Xanthorrhoea preissii 10% (grass tree)
Banksia menziesii juv. 5%
Banksia attenuata juv. 5%
Petrophile sp1. 6%
Pimelea sulphurea 1%
Melaleuca sp. 5%
Isotropis cuneifolia subsp. cuneifolia 1%
Gompholobium tomentosum 1% (pea)
Jacksonia sp1. 2% (pea)
Petrophile sp2. 2%
Hakea costata 3%
Banksia dellanneyi subsp. pollosta 2% (det. K.R. Thiele)
Hakea prostrata 2%
Hakea lissocarpa 1%
Hibbertia huegelii 5%
Jacksonia sp2 2%
Daviesia divaricata subsp. divaricata 2%
Verticordia nitens 5%
Stirlingia latifolia 2%
Calectasia narragara 1%
Macrozamia fraseri 1%
Gastrolobium capitatum 1%
E1:
Hypochaeris glabra 5%
Drosera erythrorhiza 2%
Mesomelaena pseudostygia 2%
Calanthe flava 1%
Drosera pallida 1%
Mesomelaena tetragona 2%
Laxmannia squarrosa 1% (det. P. Macintyre)
Ursinia anthemoides 1%
Heliophila pusilla 1%
Stylidium sp1. 1%
Stylidium sp.1 1%
Centrolepis sp. 1% (annual Restionaceae)
Anigozanthos humilis 1%
Anigozanthos manglesii 1%
Drosera menziesii 1%
Loxocarya sp. 1%
No anthropogenic disturbance; occasional crossing by kangaroos (spoor
suggesting that it is the Western Grey Kangaroo). No obvious traces of
grazing or browsing. The site is close to a dirt (sandy) road, but only the
edge of the road is disturbed. The site might have gone through burn
some 10-12 years ago.
Leaf litter is sparse, concentrating (in form of ribbons) mainly around the
trees. There are logs of (mainly burnt) Banksia and Eucalyptus on the site. The sampling was done within the distance of at least 10 m of the forest
edge (in any direction), using the prescribed 30 x 30 m design.
Moving through the vegetation was easy. |